Public Health Bill, 2026
Government bill, sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability
Withdrawn. Withdrawn by the Government for further amendments and consultation; expected back in the New Year (sitting of 2 October 2026). Reported by Radio Cayman.
What this bill does
This bill repeals and replaces the Public Health Act with a new framework that establishes a Department of Public Health, sets out the roles of the Director of Public Health, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer, and modernises the rules on notifiable diseases. It creates a Public Health Risk Emergency Committee and lets Cabinet declare a 'public health incident of national threat', during which it can make emergency regulations such as quarantine rules, gathering bans and business closures.
- Doctors and laboratory managers must report notifiable diseases and infectious agents, with a CI$2,000 fine for failing to do so without reasonable excuse
- The Director can order a suspected carrier to stay at a specified location for up to 72 hours, with court orders lasting up to 28 days; breaching a court order carries up to CI$5,000 and two years' jail
- A new Public Health Risk Emergency Committee can investigate premises such as schools, workplaces and care settings and order remediation, including closure for up to five days; the Chief Medical Officer can close premises for up to 14 days for cleaning
- Health insurers, care facilities, schools and others must provide health data within 30 days when asked, and annual public health statistics must go to the Minister by 1 March and be laid before Parliament
Who it affects: doctors, laboratories, hospitals and care homes, health insurers, schools and workplaces, people with notifiable diseases, food handlers, the general public
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